Abby Lee Miller's Battle With Cancer
- Abby Lee Miller, 48, flew from London to Los Angeles a few days ago and offered fans some insight into her strength as she shared footage of herself walking with a cane inside the airplane.
- Miller battled a rare kind of cancer called Burkitt lymphoma in 2018 after experiencing pain in the back of her neck.
- Burkitt lymphoma, according to the National Cancer Institute, is a type of aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that often starts in people’s organs.
- Miller has been wheelchair-bound since her first spinal cord surgery, but she’s been seen more recently using a walker to get around, thanks to her determination and her continued physical therapy sessions.
Miller, who founded “Abby Lee Dance Company” and “Reign Dance Productions,” previously battled Burkitt lymphoma (an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma) in 2018 after experiencing pain in the back of her neck following her prison sentence. After chemotherapy and numerous surgeries for treatment, the iconic dance coach was left needing to use a wheelchair to get around.
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Miller wrote alongside the video she shared, “Thanks to the wonderful crew on Virgin Atlantic transatlantic flight from Heathrow to LAX! You’re always the best! #struttin #physicaltherapy #walk.”
She is seen in the footage with a full face of makeup and her hair done, wearing what appears to be a comfortable all-black outfit and adidas sneakers.
At one point Miller takes side steps with the walker into one of the isles on the plane, without anyone’s help.
The footage sparked praise from her fans, to which one of them commented, “You’re doing great! What an inspiration! As a fellow cancer patient you have inspired me to be as brave and push myself every day. love you lots,” and others stated how “proud” they were of Miller.
Miller has been traveling around the country and the U.K. hosting various workshops for dancers to share her wisdom. In August she”ll be making her way across California and Long Island, New York.
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The beloved dance instructor and choreographer is often seen in her wheelchair as she’s leading her workshops, so it’s truly admirable to see her up and about using her walker between work sessions, something she’s been working hard to be able to do with the help of physical therapy.
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Abby Lee Miller’s Health Journey
Abby Lee Miller was diagnosed with a rare kind of cancer called Burkitt lymphoma in 2018 after experiencing pain in the back of her neck. Burkitt lymphoma, according to the National Cancer Institute, is a type of aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that often starts in people’s organs.
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Miller has had numerous surgeries and chemotherapy for cancer treatment. She also underwent emergency surgery after shattering her tibia-fibula in a swimming pool and keeps struggling with broken bones after “10 rounds of very invasive chemotherapy” left her bones “very brittle.”
“Sometimes, I feel fabulous, other times I’m in a lot of pain,” she told The U.S. Sun in a 2023 interview. “My back is chronic it hurts constantly where the surgery was.”
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In May 2019, it was determined that Miller was cancer-free and she began making good progress in her recovery.
But despite all the hardship, Miller is working toward her health goals. With the help of physical and occupational therapy, Miller has been working to get rid of her wheelchair and revert back to using a walker, which she used prior to her tibia-fibula incident.
“Even though I’m paraplegic and I’m in the wheelchair, I am not letting it hold me back,” she said.
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Life after active treatment for any cancer may look different than it did prior to your diagnosis. In a previous interview with medical oncologist Dr. Michael Jain of the Moffitt Cancer Center, we learned “there are a number of different things that people may experience in the late-term period” after successful treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
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“Depending on the age of the patient when they’re diagnosed with their cancer, or the other health issues that are going on, sometimes the functional status, or what people are able to do, is not quite what it was before the cancer,” Dr. Jain explained.
Some survivorship issues can include things like peripheral neuropathy as well as chemo brain or cognitive issues. But, unfortunately, post-treatment concerns don’t stop there.
“One of the things we focus on is trying to prevent secondary cancers,” Dr. Jain said. “Although the chemotherapy often did a very good job in terms of curing the initial cancer, there is sometimes a risk of secondary cancer happening.
“And so patients should be watched for that and also should be aware that other cancers may occur.”
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment and Beyond
That’s why it’s important for cancer survivors to come up with a survivorship plan that includes a schedule for follow-up exams and tests as well as screenings for any new cancers. But, remember, everyone’s case of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is different. There are so many different types of the disease, and one person’s recovery from treatment can look vastly different from another person’s.
“Patients, once they finish their therapy, are often quite well,” Dr. Jain said. “If they have not had too many complications from their therapy, they are often able to go back to many of the same things that they did before they had their diagnosis of cancer and are able to live full and complete lives.”
If you’re struggling with life after cancer treatment, know you’re not alone. Don’t hesitate to talk to doctors, a therapist, family, friends or a support group if you’re struggling with how life has changed since your diagnosis.
Physical Therapy During Cancer Treatment
Researchers have told SurvivorNet that physical therapy can help patients manage side effects brought on by cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. Some patients may experience fatigue, neuropathy, weakness, balance issues, and more, and by consulting with a personal physical therapist, patients can work through these symptoms.
“[Physical therapists] can work with you before chemotherapy to get your baseline and get you on a program to help reduce the symptoms that may happen from chemotherapy, and they can work with you along the entire spectrum of chemotherapy treatment in order to reduce those side effects,” Dr. Angela Wicker-Ramos, a oncology physical therapist for Cancer Rehab and Integrative Medicine in Austin, Texas, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview
Dr. Wicker-Ramos also says that chemotherapy and radiation treatments can have side effects on hormones, which can lead to issues with weight gain as well as some sexual dysfunction. Luckily for patients, personalized physical therapy routines will be able to help with those side effects as well.
“A lot of the side effects that happen from cancer treatment can be improved or significantly reduced with physical therapy,” Dr. Wicker-Ramos says.
“…All of those things can be helped with an exercise program and with a very structured, individualized program.”
Finding Joy During and After a Cancer Journey
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, remember to try not to let it define you. One way to do this is by finding things you enjoy and tapping into them. Many cancer patients often gain a refreshed outlook on life after a cancer diagnosis.
“We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,” Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, previously told SurvivorNet.
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WATCH: Working on your emotional health can help you find joy in life.
Dr. Chase advocates for cancer warriors to prioritize their mental health. She says finding activities that bring you joy is part of the journey to boost your overall mental health.
Sometimes the activities can be art, cooking, spending time with loved ones, pet therapy, or music. In Abby Lee Miller’s case, she has the joy of dance and sharing her skills with others to help lift her spirits if she’s ever feeling overwhelmed.
“If that’s related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities,” Dr. Chase adds.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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